It’s Go Time!

First, about the ticket contest. I’m still tabulating the results. Looks like we had two contestants with 4-3 Devils, and neither had Kovalchuk with GWG. Hope to make it official shortly.

Next, we’re planning a live chat tomorrow, Thursday, at 11:30 a.m. So plan on bringing questions/comments and pretending you are working while at your computer. Also, please use a screen name when you ask/comment.

Ya boys, thanks to the BCATHGE (breakaway contest after the hockey game ends), are NHL-undefeated in their last three (2-0-1).

In case you missed it, the Devils’ Eric Boulton was fined the max $2,500 for his slash that stung the left hand of Mike Rupp in the second period last night. Tortorella was livid when it happened, but said that Rupp is fine.

On the pre-game show, Mike , while trying to compliment Hagelin, claimed that he cheated to win the fastest skater contest. I haven’t heard this from anyone else – any one know what he’s talking about?

Typical bitter drunk Mike Milbury can’t give proper credit to the NYR. He is referring to Hags jumping the gun in the first heat of the all star race. Doesn’t mention that Hags BLEW THE DOORS OFF the guy in the next heat. Silly drunk. He will never be Don Cherry.

ilbster, i iwill look into that…when i said pinche pendejo poblanos i was also referencing a joking way to refer to poblanos o gente de los pueblitos en mexico…we call them ‘pipopes’…but do not say that with malice for it is harsh when not said amongst friends as gentle ribbing. …i like to use this when I laugh in spanish on the internets: JAJAJAJAJA.

Dull game with Emrick calling it and waffling (waffleboarding?) on about nothing reminded me about a post when I tried to articulate it before…

“One of tonight’s goal judges is from East Nozzleford, Minnesota. You might remember his great uncle Stanley playing for the East Nozzleford Nuggets of the old Western Colonial Hockey League in the late 1950s…”

According to Doc, at the beginning of the game, Rangers had only allowed 98 goals when the official tally was 100. I figured he was leaving out empty-net goals. Now, Doc says the total is 96. *bangs head on desk*

I was one of the first to point out, last fall, that the
Bruins won a cup largely without help from the PP.
But I also pointed out that’s walkin’ a tightrope, so
no formula for success most seasons.

If the PP were the sole basis for hiring and firing, Torts
woulda been gone long ago (and to be fair, so would
a half-dozen of his predecessors long before they finally
were)). I’m beginnin’ to wonder if even Bob Johnson
coulda fixed it…

Seems like the staff is working the same kind
of unimaginative magic on the occasional shootouts.

Brad Richards is here, at least in part, because of Torts.
Right now, that goes on the same side of the ledger as
the PP and shootouts. Cross your fingers that changes,
’cause that is some Holy Albatross of a contract, another
in a long line of Sather Savior Specials.

I still would have rather seen Hank in NJ last night. It may not have worked out as well, with us getting 3 points in the 2 nights, but I always want Hank in nets against NJ – to win for us, and to deprive them of needed points. I really want to see them miss the playoffs and lose Parise in the summer.

They’ll really have to stink from now on for them not to get 100 points. .500 even gets them 102. Playing with mainly 5 D-men should worry them more than PP at the moment. Staal is far from his best and tge best one we have at tge moment is Eminger. Sather maybe looking for a defenseman along with some additional scoring. Not sure who is available.

Ilb, whoever the guy was during the 2nd intermission radio interview from the Chicago organization (a scout maybe?) was audibly salivating over McDonaugh especially. You’re right, the team better protect their D…

I swear, I spent about 10 minutes scouring youtube trying to find a Nintendo Ice Hockey video of a power play goal and came up dry… I think I made my point though. Please Rangers, study the film. It’s not that hard.

We need to fix the PP or get someone who can by the trade deadline. Just because Boston won without a good PP doesn’t mean we have to go into the playoffs with one skate off. FIX IT! We could be even better!

I’m missing Whiskey Sweet and Saure very much!! When he hit the back of his head, i was afraid this was going to be a long absence, but was hoping it wouldn’t be this long ! I truly hope he gets better soon!!

You’re right, Lin – we miss him. All this fuss by other teams about players who concuss their teammates having to “pay the price” the next time the teams meet – well, we met the Leafs another time after that Sauer game, I believe – and nobody looked to engage Sloppy Seconds…

Agreed, not having Sauer and overplaying those 5 D are gonna hurt them in the long run. I wouldn’t mind seeing Woywhatever get in over Bickel. Then again, they might stay the course for the Flyers game and hopefully Eminger is ready to come back next week.

I love Dubi dearly, but for the love of god, someone get him a shrink. As well he can play defensively, he’s starting to remind me of Mike Pelfrey and that scares me to death.

stuart a – I was guessing that he may not be including empty-net goals or shootout losses? And he said 98 at the beginning of the game. Lundqvist and Biron have combined for 92 GA, Lundqvist has 4 EGA, and I guess the Rangers have lost four shootouts for the other four goals.

It was borderline because if you watch it Girardi turns to his left, and is also hit from the left side. But the Buffalo player should have let up with his right hand which shoved Girardi on the numbers, hence the boarding call.

Many players would have planted themselves into the boards or NOT protected themselves at all. That’s when boarding goes wrong.

Lundqvist is playing like a MVP right now. just in the zone all his reactions even when the puck doesn’t get through to him and recovering in stance… it’s fun to watch, man. especially as a Rangers fan.

didn’t know about giving him all the rest with Biron starting but it’s working and he’s going to need that energy in the playoffs. Biron only sees icetime in a blowout or if Mr. Softqvist shows up (Haven’t heard that one in a while have you?!)

i knew Cally wouldn’t be denied in the shootout. He was so pissed I just knew he was going to focus and rip it past Miller

I don’t think I will ever comprehend the relentless animosity that some Bonesters have for Eric Christensen.

I’ve seen where he doesn’t check, he doesn’t skate hard, he doesn’t this or that, he is afraid to make hits, etc.

Yet in my observations of him I have seen him deal out some terrific body hits – when some one was near him-, and I have seen him do remarkable things with the puck when he has the opportunity. He has amazing hands and he has contributed more to this team’s offense from time to time ( within his limited ice time,) and granted…he is not a very good or fast skater, but he doesn’t deserve the complete scathing that he gets. He wold always come in handy during the shoot outs, but you cannot play a guy simply for a one specific situation. But he has helped remarkably
in the past. The same was done to Gilroy when he was forced to pinch hit for Staal and play a defensive position that he was unaccustomed to…and he also was used sporadically. I guess that he was supposed to make folks forget about Staal…but he was all too often stuck there as an afterthought. Now he is one of the top D men on the Lightning, and plays a regular RIGHT defense position and with freedom to roam.

I’d hate to see EC dumped on another team and one day comeback and chill the Rangers in a key situation.